In this review, we will be comparing CR4-XBT and CR3-XBT, two Powered Bookshelf speakers by Mackie. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Mackie CR4-XBT and Mackie CR3-XBT first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Mackie CR4-XBT | Mackie CR3-XBT |
|---|
| Brand | Mackie
United States · founded 1988 | Mackie
United States · founded 1988 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 25-watt RMS (50-watt peak) | 25-watt RMS (50-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Dome | 0.75" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Polypropylene | 3" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-20k Hz | 80-20k Hz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 4.2 | Built-in 4.2 |
|---|
| Weight | 4.58kg / 10.1lbs | 3.54kg / 7.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8.75" x 6.125" x 8.5"
222.3 x 155.6 x 215.9mm | 8.125" x 5.5" x 7.5"
206.4 x 139.7 x 190.5mm |
|---|
CR4-XBT and CR3-XBT are members of Mackie's CR series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Mackie CR Series
History
|
Model |
Body |
Frequency |
Watts RMS | Max Depth / Sample Rate | Woofer |
 |
Mackie CR4-XBT
|
Bookshelf |
65-20k Hz |
25-watt | /Ω |
1 x 4"
|
 |
Mackie CR3-XBT
|
Bookshelf |
80-20k Hz |
25-watt | /Ω |
1 x 3"
|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both CR4-XBT and CR3-XBT are 2-way speakers.
Mackie CR4-XBTMackie CR3-XBT
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Mackie CR4-XBT |
Mackie CR3-XBT |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 3-inch
|
CR4-XBT features a 0.75" Silk Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the CR3-XBT features a 0.75" Silk Dome Tweeter and 1 x 3" Polypropylene Woofer.
Frequency Response
CR4-XBT has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz whereas CR3-XBT has a frequency range of 80-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 65Hz, the CR4-XBT can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the CR3-XBT's min frequency of 80Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both CR4-XBT and CR3-XBT have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Mackie CR4-XBT's and Mackie CR3-XBT's external dimensions. Mackie CR4-XBT has external dimensions of 222.3 x 155.6 x 215.9mm (8.75 x 6.125 x 8.5inch) whereas Mackie CR3-XBT has external dimensions of 206.4 x 139.7 x 190.5mm (8.125 x 5.5 x 7.5inch).
Mackie CR4-XBT is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 15.9mm wider, 15.9mm taller and 25.4mm deeper than Mackie CR3-XBT.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Mackie CR4-XBT and Mackie CR3-XBT in scale.
Comparison image of Mackie CR4-XBT and Mackie CR3-XBT Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Mackie CR4-XBT is approximately 335.9cm2 / 52.1inch2 and base area of the Mackie CR3-XBT is approximately 266.1cm2 / 41.2inch2. The CR4-XBT requires 26% more surface area than the CR3-XBT which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Mackie CR4-XBT and Mackie CR3-XBT on a Media Console
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Mackie CR4-XBT weighs 4.58kg / 10.1lbs and the Mackie CR3-XBT weighs 3.54kg / 7.8lbs. This makes the CR4-XBT 29% heavier than the CR3-XBT.
Here is a comparison of how CR4-XBT and CR3-XBT's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Mackie CR4-XBT?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of CR4-XBT:
- Powered monitor w/ attached 5.5-feet power cord (C7 unpolarized)
- Passive monitor
- 6.5-feet Speaker wire
- 5-feet Stereo mini to RCA cable
- Quick Start Guide
What's in the Box of Mackie CR3-XBT?
Here are the items that come with the CR3-XBT:
- Powered monitor w/ attached 5.5-feet power cord (C7 unpolarized)
- Passive monitor
- 6.5-feet Speaker wire
- 5-feet Stereo mini to RCA cable
- Quick Start Guide
 Woofer Size |
4 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
65 Hz
vs
80 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Height |
206mm
vs
222mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
266cm2
vs
335cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
120USD
vs
170USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
| General |
Mackie CR4-XBT |
Mackie CR3-XBT |
| Brand |
Mackie |
Mackie |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
65-20k Hz |
80-20k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
25-watt RMS |
25-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
50-watt RMS |
50-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
3" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
222.3mm (8.8") |
206.4mm (8.1") |
| Width |
155.6mm (6.1") |
139.7mm (5.5") |
| Depth |
215.9mm (8.5") |
190.5mm (7.5") |
| Weight |
4.58kg (10.1lbs) |
3.54kg (7.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
RCA |
RCA |
| USB Port |
No |
No |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
No |
No |
| Digital Input |
No |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
3.5mm |
3.5mm |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
Siblings in Mackie's CR series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Mackie CR4-XBT digs deeper - 65Hz against 80Hz. |
| Built-in power | evenly matched | Similar onboard amplification (25W vs 25W RMS). |
| Connections | evenly matched | The same set of inputs and streaming options. |
| Size | depends | Mackie CR3-XBT is easier to place; Mackie CR4-XBT is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Mackie CR3-XBT is cheaper - $120 against $170, about 29% less. |
A Mackie CR4-XBT B Mackie CR3-XBT
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Mackie CR4-XBT is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 42% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Mackie CR3-XBT looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Mackie CR4-XBT appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 80Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Mackie CR3-XBT much easier to justify. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $50 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.